An 8-year-old girl came to court Thursday to tell Washington County jurors that her mother, Jessica Dutro, used to give her and her brothers “lickins” when they were bad.

The girl was 7 years old when her 4-year-old brother, Zachary Dutro-Boggess, died from injuries related to a beating.

Wearing a pink t-shirt and jeans, the girl answered attorneys’ questions from the witness stand during her mother’s murder trial. Dutro, 25, is charged with murder, murder by abuse and second-degree assault in Zachary’s August 2012 death.

Brian Canady, Dutro’s 24-year-old boyfriend, pleaded guilty earlier this month to first-degree manslaughter for his abuse of the child.

Prosecutors say both defendants abused Dutro’s three children and neglected to seek medical attention for Zachary until it was too late. The couple together had an infant son, who was not diagnosed with abuse.

Zachary, Dutro’s second child, was taken to a hospital Aug. 14, 2012, with tears in his bowel from a blow to his abdomen. Doctors kept him alive for two more days before he was taken off life support.

Zachary’s older sister told investigators that “Jessica and Brian” beat Zachary until he was sick. They knew he wasn't doing well, but they didn’t tell anyone, she said.

She also reported that she and her two preschool-aged brothers were put in timeout for long stretches. They were forced to “face the wall” with their hands in the air. If their arms dropped, she said, Dutro or Canady would hit them.

On audio and video recordings, the girl was talkative in one-on-one interviews.

In a courtroom, before a jury, judge, her mother, lawyers and spectators, the girl often gave soft, one-word answers to questions.

She said both Dutro and Canady gave her and her brother “lickins.” The punishments hurt and left marks, she said.